Three New Sustainable Housing Projects Started Across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cheshire

The Crown Estate have announced the development of three new housing demonstration projects, appointing three leading UK SMEs to deliver across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Cheshire. 

TOWN, igloo Regeneration, and gs8, the chosen partners, have been selected for their innovative approaches to deliver high-quality and sustainable housing, as they are leaders in sustainable development. 

The projects will explore solutions to better understand the challenges and opportunities of building homes to this standard, and deliver a streamlined channel of inclusive and sustainable housing. 

Rob Chesworth, Head of Strategic Land at The Crown Estate, said: 

The UK’s housing sector desperately needs more innovation if it is to deliver the quality, affordable homes that the current and future UK population needs.

These housing demonstration projects are an opportunity for us to test innovative approaches to sustainable design and help us understand how to scale up across the country. By partnering with gs8, igloo and TOWN – all of which have proven track records in this space – we are confident that we can play a key role in addressing some of the UK’s significant housing and environmental challenges, while setting new standards for the development of thriving, sustainable communities.

They aim to develop 200 homes across the three sites, exploring new approaches – hoping to learn and understand through this ‘how the industry can better improve the quality of homes, improve the energy security for those living in them, and then explore how to deliver them at scale across the UK.’

The Crown Estate are working towards a greener future

The pilot projects each have green targets, including achieving carbon levels less than 300kg CO2/m2 and energy use intensity of 35kWh/m2/year. 

The developments are on a mission to promote healthy and energy-efficient living – with an aim for a minimum 15% biodiversity net gain, on-site renewable energy generation, and alignment with the Passivhaus standard.

Credit: igloo / Virtual Planit

What will each development partner bring to the project? (The Crown Estate

  • gs8 will deliver 50 net zero carbon homes in Wootton, Bedfordshire. Known for its award-winning, planet-positive developments, gs8 will pioneer regenerative development principles, including a market leading approach to carbon reduction and de-constructable homes for future reuse.
  • TOWN will oversee 80 homes at Westwick Row in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, adjacent to The Crown Estate’s East Hemel site. The project will explore innovative community engagement methods and alternative housing models, including collaborative housing and intergenerational living.
  • igloo, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of socially conscious fund manager Thriving Investments, part of the Places for People group, will lead the development of 60 homes in Knutsford, Cheshire, exploring low-carbon infrastructure delivery and adopting a community-first approach to design and construction.

Programmes of public engagement are underway at Westwick Row and Wootton, and another project is expected to begin in Knutsford later this year.